Cabinet clears Rs. 2 b allocation for urgent renovation of key irrigation schemes in dry zone

Thursday, 26 June 2025 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

In response to severe flood damage that disrupted water releases to cultivated lands across the dry zone, the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday (24) approved a Rs. 2 billion allocation under the 2025 Budget for the urgent renovation of major irrigation systems.

The move focuses on restoring key infrastructure in five critical schemes spread across the Ampara, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura

districts.

These areas, which are heavily reliant on irrigated agriculture, have experienced repeated flooding in the recent year, severely damaging canal networks and threatening both food security and farmer livelihoods.

The approved allocations include; Galoya Scheme (Ampara District) for renovation of flood-damaged and broken canal systems worth Rs. 900 million, Minneriya Irrigation Scheme (Polonnaruwa District) for renovation of irrigation systems and drainage canals worth Rs. 300 million, Girithale Irrigation Scheme (Polonnaruwa District) for renovation of irrigation systems worth Rs. 200 million, Huruluwewa Irrigation Scheme (Anuradhapura District) for renovation of irrigation systems and drainage canals worth Rs. 300 million, and Rajanganaya Irrigation Scheme (Anuradhapura District) for renovation of gravity and lift irrigation systems at a cost of Rs. 300 million.

“These schemes are considered essential components of the country’s agricultural backbone, particularly for paddy cultivation in the dry zone. The restoration work will be done using 2025 Budgetary provisions,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

The proposal to this effect, submitted by Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.